Travel & Shopping: Finding Something Actually Worth Buying

When every luxury store carries the same merchandise, how do you find something truly worth buying?

When I’m planning a trip, I always consider the shopping opportunities that await me in a new city. But the truth is, living in New York means I already have access to almost everything the world has to offer—often I don’t even need to leave my house and can just click on my phone.

So, what’s worth seeking out when traveling? I always try to focus on finding something that’s either difficult to get in New York or offers a savings opportunity. But both propositions are becoming rarer. Walk into Louis Vuitton, Gucci, or Prada in any major city, and you’ll likely see the same selection you’d find at home.

Yet, when I look through my closet, the most unique pieces don’t come from designer boutiques at all. They come from hotels. I have shearling-lined slippers from Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, a rugged outdoor jacket from Ballyfin in Ireland, and buttery leather envelopes from Cheval Blanc in St. Barths. There are tote bags from beach resorts, flip-flops from the Maldives, and a collection of hotel-branded keepsakes that, while not particularly expensive, feel more exclusive than many of my designer purchases. And, more importantly, they hold sentimental value—reminders of places, experiences, and moments in time.

Some hotels have mastered this idea of retail-as-memory better than others. Hôtel Costes in Paris has been selling its brand of cool for decades, with a hotel shop filled with covetable branded items. But what truly set it apart was its music. In the early 2000s, Hôtel Costes released a series of lounge CDs that became chart-topping hits, defining a mood and etching itself into the cultural memory of an entire generation. It was more than just a hotel—it was a feeling you could take home.

So why can’t luxury fashion do the same? Gucci loafers in a shade of pink exclusive to the Bahamas? Not quite. Stamping “Spain” on a Loewe bag in Madrid? Too performative. Designer brands haven’t yet figured out how to sell an experience rather than just an item. At the Ritz Hotel in Paris you can buy everything from branded teddy bears to coffee cups but it fails to feel designer or more than overpriced giveaways.

I wonder why more brands don’t embrace the idea of true location-specific retail—curating in-store experiences that reflect the culture, craftsmanship, and heritage of the place they’re in. Instead of a generic "Paris Exclusive" or "Tokyo Edition," why not create small, dedicated in-store boutiques featuring pieces made by local artisans using traditional techniques? Imagine a Chanel outpost in Kyoto showcasing handcrafted obi-inspired silk accessories, or a Louis Vuitton boutique in Mexico City offering leather goods embroidered with motifs designed by local artists.

These wouldn’t just be products—they’d be souvenirs in the truest sense of the word. Not just reminders of a place, but tangible pieces of its history, its people, its artistry. Luxury is supposed to be about rarity and storytelling, yet so many brands have become homogenized, offering the same experience whether you're in Milan, Miami, or Macau.